Poly GCL runs crude oil production test - Discovers new gas field. After 70 years of relentless quest for oil in the Ogaden basin Ethiopia for the first time began producing a light crude oil from Hilala gas field on a trial basis. Senior government officials including the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Meles Alemu, State Minister, Kaong Tutlam (PhD), the Minister of Government Communications Affairs Office, Ahmed Shide, President of the Ethiopian Somali Regional State, Abdi Mohamud Omar and senior executives of Poly GCL Petroleum Investments attended the launch of the crude oil test production.

Poly GCL Petroleum Investment has been trying to develop the natural gas reserves in the Calub, Hilala and Genale gas fields. It has also been prospecting for additional gas and oil reserves in its license area measuring 93,000sqkm of land in the arid region of the Ogaden basin since 2014. Poly GCL Petroleum Investments – led by general manager Li Wei – struck oil in the wells it drilled at Hilala. Following the oil discovery petroleum experts of Poly GCL started the test production in the presence of officials of the federal and regional government.

Ethiopia is to start extracting the first ever crude oil deposit from Ethio-Somali Region as of tomorrow. It is to be recalled that back in March, 2018, Poly-GCL, a Chinese company engaged in oil and gas exploration and development project in the Ethio-Somali Regional State, has already discovered oil and natural gas deposits. The amount of gas reserve discovered by Poly-GCL is estimated to be 6 to 8 Trillion Cubic Feet. Poly-GCL which signed petroleum development agreement with then Ministry of Mines to the Calub and Hilala gas fields in in Ogaden basin is set to start extraction of the crude oil deposits as of tomorrow. The crude oil deposit is scheduled to be transported to Addis Ababa and other parts of the country where it will be distributed to cement factories as of tomorrow.

The Chinese company which is engaged in oil and gas exploration and development project in the Ogaden basin, Poly-GCL Petroleum Investments Limited, is going to start extracting natural gas at the Calub gas field in the Ethio-Somali Regional State next month. Reliable sources told The Reporter that Poly GCL for the first time in the history of Ethiopia will start pumping out the natural gas reserve at Calub locality which is estimated at 2.7 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF). Sources said the Chinese firm, at the initial phase, will extract the natural gas condensate at a small scale. “The gas production will start as a pilot project next month. The company will supply the gas condensate for local manufacturing industries such as cement factories,” sources told The Reporter. Eight gas production wells have been drilled and made ready for production in Calub.